Developer-roll film



Sept. 6, 1949. w; H. RICHARDS DEVELOPER-ROLL FILM 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledDec. 19, 1945 RNEYS Sept. 6, 1949. w. H. RICHARDS DEVELOPER-ROLL FILM 4Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 19, 1945 INVENTOR. W/ZU/IM 1% 6/0/9805 0L4), w%W 0% ATTORNEYS Sept. 6, 1949. w. H. RICHARDS DEVELOPER-ROLL FILM 4Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed D60. 19, 1945 1N VENTOR. W/ZZ/AMI #0 15/0 /4505 mmpAZFTORNEY5 Sept. 1949- w. H. RICHARDS 2,480,880

DEVELOPER-ROLL FILM Filed Dec. 19, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 l atented ept.6, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DEVELOPER-ROLL FILM (Granted underthe act of March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 370 O. G. 757) 8Claims.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or forthe Government for governmental purposes without payment to me of anyroyalty thereon.

This invention relates to a roll film developing device.

In developing roll film of various width and length it is necessary toagitate the film within the developing tank during the process ofdeveloping. Where such operations must be conducted in the field or inimprovised dark rooms or laboratories considerable difficulty has beenexperienced in developing film of great length. The apparatus for thispurpose at present known to the art have not been found satisfactory forsuch work, said apparatus being too slow and comprising too many workingparts causing serious delays and loss of the film being developed in theevent of breakdown.

In accordance with this invention, a framework is constructed to be setwithin a film developing tank. This framework supports a power motivemeans, as an electric motor, that is coupled through a torque responsivereversing clutch mechanism to two film reels which are selectivelypowered for rotation in winding film alternately thereon. The torqueresponsive clutch mechanism has a shaft that is integral with andextends from a hollow drum to be driven by the motive power means. Thisshaft has a sprocket journaled thereon which includes a lever arm thatprojects over the peripheral edge of the drum. The other end of the drumhas a similar shaft extension with a gear journaled thereon which gearincludes a lever arm projecting over the peripheral edge of the drum.The gear is in mesh with another gear of a gear-sprocket cluster. Withinthe drum is a spring biased plunger havin two related members with outercam faces that extend alternately through peripheral openings atdiametrically opposite points of the drum. The

plunger is spring biased to be tripped longitudinally over center toforce one or the other of the related cammed members radially outward toextend through the respective drum peripheral opening, one cammed memberbeing engageable by the sprocket lever arm projection and the othercammed member being engageable by the gear lever arm projection. Apredetermined pressure of one of the lever arm projections on itscompanion cammed member will force the plunger to shift over center tocause the other cammed member and cooperating lever arm projection toenage. Each sprocket is coupled through sprocket 2 framework. Eachsleeve member has a shaft extending therethrough that is coupled to thesleeve member by a clutch and coupled to each one of the film reels by aclutch. By this construction, one or the other of the reels is poweredby the motive power means and any great load on the powered reel, as bythe end of a film being reached during the developing process, willincrease the torque in the coupling from the reel to the motive powermeans to cause the plunger to shift whereby the other reel will bepowered to wind the film. In this manner, a film of great length can becontinuously wound alternately on the reels in a developing tank withoutmanual attention providing rapid development of the film in a simplemanner with little or no cause for film damage.

in the event of motive power failure, manual actuator means are providedon the shafts extending through the sleeves for use in carrying out thedeveloping process.

It is an object of this invention to provide a roll film developingdevice that will accommodate films of great length and of variouswidths.

It is another object of the invention to provide a device of thecharacter described of simple construction and manufacture, ofrelatively few working parts and that may be easily transported andreadily assembled.

It is another object of the invention to provide a device of thecharacter described that may be Jquickly and easily converted to manualoperation in the event of power failure or mechanical failure of thedriving mechanism without damage to the ,film being developed.

It is another object of the invention to provide a device of thecharacter described having a novel reversing mechanism that willautomatically win-d and rewind roll film of considerable length withinthe developing tanks at a high rate of speed.

The above and other objects will be apparent from the followingdescription and as illustrated .in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a vertical side View, partly in section,

Fig. 2 is a top plan view partly in section of the device shown in Fig.1,

Fig. 3 is a side elevation showing the reel loader mounted on theframework.

Fig. 4 is a bottom view of the reversin mechanism illustrating the meansof transmitting rotation to one of the film reels.

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the reversing mechanism taken on theline 5-5 of Fig. 6,

chains to rotate a sleeve member journaled in the and Fig. 6 is anelevational view of the reversing mechanism shown partly in section.

Referring noW more specifically to the drawings, the numeral Idesignates the driving mechanism housing having outwardly extendedsupports 2 which are supported by the side bars of the framework 3 anddetachably secured thereto by the bolts 4 .and nuts 5. Said frameworkcomprises said supports. 2,.four side:bars'.3,i,and .the base 6.

Mounted within the housing I is a suitable driving element (not shown)such asat c nyentional electric motor, which impartspower to thesprocket 7 through the chain 8, thesh'aft '1' of the sprocket 1 beinginte rallmconn t d with the drum 9. Within the drum 9 is mounted areversing mechanism, to be hereinafter *morespecifically described.Freely. mounted .on :the shaft 1' adjacent the opposing sides .ofthedrum ,1! are the driven arms H, |2,- which extend outwardly and have theprojectinglugsor fingers 1,3 l 4, said finger l3 extending downwardly.and said finger l4extending upwardly with relation to the position ofthe drum.

On opposite sides of the drum 9, are the pivotally mounted alternatelyretractable driving arms 26,21. Said driving arms 26, 21 are graduallyreduced toward the outer end thereof forming .dog faces. As the drum 9rotatesone of the driving arms 26, 21 will contact one .of theprojecting fingers l3, M, of the driven arms .I I, 12, depending on thedirection of rotation of the reels to be hereinafter described, andimpart rotation thereto. To reverse the mechanism, when arm .I l or l2,whichever is beingdrivemcis stopped due tothe end of the roll of filmbeing-reached, this driven arm will no longer turn and the driving armin contact with the driven arm will be forced inwardly in a transversedirection forcing the opposing driving arm to move outwardlye moving thesaid driving arm into position to contact:the

.wheel 35. The shaftof the wheel .35is in integral connection with thesleeve 36 which rotates on suitable bearings 31, .31. Mountedon-thelowerend of the sleeve 36 is a splash baffle 38 {and ,mounted on theframework adjacent said baffle 38 in the outer splash baffle ,39..designed .to keep the developing fluid in-the tanksfrom splashing.into the driving mechanism. hereinabovesdescribed during the developing.process. Rotatably mounted within said sleeve 36fis an innertubularshaft A40. The shaft 40 has a squared vportion of reduced diameter atwhich is fitted in'the aperture .l 0 of the handle 4!. This apertureisshaped to form an elongated slotadapted to-permit transverse movement ofthe handle. 4| ontheshaft 40. Ihe handle 4f-has the projection.lBadapted to engage the pin l I on the sleeve, through which rotationis imparted, to' the shaft 40. Mounted on thehandle 4| isithe spring.42, .one end of said spring being secured. to the handle 4| by means ofa set screw43 and'theother end of the spring 42 extending overtheaperture I0 in the handle through which theupper end of the shaft 40extends. A conical 'shap'ed lug=44 on the spring 42 fits into acorresponding groove .in the-shaft 40 when the-handle-is-in engagedposition and moves out of said groove and outiof lof-awfla-t hook-shaped member knurled at the free zendgthe hook-thereof adapted .to fitclosely against and partially enclose the shaft 40. Mounted on -=thelower end of the shaft 40 is the head 47 which ;.;is:slo,tted at 48 toreceive a drive pin 49 which is mounted in the reel shaft head 50 of thereel shaft-51. -='=Ihe reel shaft 51 is externally threaded Hat-.53 to;receive ,the knurled internally threaded hood 54 which is provided fora purpose to be hereinafter explained. The reel shaft 51 has a squaredportionhaving an elongated aperture 52 to receive a locking member 55having an elongated thin spring arm-forming a reel clamp 56 adaptedtofit into a notch 58' in the .reel..58, which looks the reel inengagement with the shaft 51. The lower surface of said locking member55 being notched to receivethe lower surface .of the aperture52.When'the locking member 55 is in looking position, the knurled hood 54may .bescrewed downwardly forming a locking. means for holding thelocking member .55 inengaged position.

i'Ihe reel 58, and reelishaft 51, which formjthe subject matter of acopending application having Serial No; 635,815,.filed by me onDecemberlB, 19.45, grantedon May l6,..19.4.7. and bearing the PatentNumber 2,425,344, will now be moreparticularly described. The reel 1.58comprises. a tubular housing of noncorrosive metal, or.similar material,with apertures 5| therein at spaced intervals to receive the clamps 59for the adjustment of the loosely mountedfilm guides .lawto .filmsofVarying size. The shaft .51 is inserted .intothe reel -58. through.suitable aperturesprovided therefor, and has, the axial bearing .60seated in the depression 6|,of the..base 5. .The .filmtobe developed ismounted on the reels .58,

.Mounted on one side of the framework lbetween the posts 3, 3 is the.removable .camera spool holder It comprising a post having alateral.bar 1* mounted on the lower .end ther of, said bar 'Hmhaving.anupstanding spindle .12 on .the :free end thereof adapted to receive.the socket .ofacamera film spool, Asimil-ar bar 13. isad- ,justablymounted on-saidpost 70 having a down- Wardly extending camera filmspool-spindle. .14 on'the free end thereof. -The bar 13 ,is secured tothepost :10 by means of the clamp 75,:comvprising a-pairofv platesembracing said post .10

,andthe handle flfieccentrically fulcrumed on said -plates,:the offsetprojection of said handle fitting .into one-of several spaceddepressions .63 inthe ..post 10. The-postlll has .an outwardly flaredpro- .jec-tionqllton the-lowernnd thereof for-mine a '\n9tCh1 '1 :tO'fitintothe notch-1130f the cross plate .19 ,mounted ,on thelower end of-the-framework .l. -The upper end :of-the'post 510; is receivedbyanembracingspringclamp means mountedon the upperportion of'theframeworkvI between the posts 3, 3.

.In -operationythe construction above described and; shown in detailisthat portion'of-the mechani sm operated when drivenby the arml.--W.hen

the'film' has been entirely wound on the reel :58, the reversing;mechanism will function and the --p owerwill; be :transmitted QIthe;driven arm J 2 17-5 which-wil1- transmit pqwer throughwthe gear 58A tothe gear 02 and sprocket wheel 83 and chain I9 to the driving mechanism94 of the reel 05. The driving mechanism and construction of the reel 05substantially identical to that above described for the reel 58.

- When it is desired to remove or replace a reel in the mechanism, thehook 46 is moved out of locked position and the handle M is raisedlifting the driving mechanism off of the shaft 51, then the reelassembly is capable of being removed from the tank. In the event it isdesiredto remove the shaft 51 from the reel fornthe purpose of removingtorn film, or for any other reason, the hood 54 may be unscrewed and thelocking member 55 removed and the shaft 51 withdrawn from the reelthrough the apertures therein.

Referring now more particularly to the reversing mechanism as illustatedin Figs. 5 and 6, within the drum 9 is the actuator 9| seated in adepression in the walls of the drum shaped to permit the actuator torock. The actuator has the concentric bore 92 in which is mounted theadjusting screw 93. The coil spring 94 is limited in its longitudinalmovement by the shoulder 95 in the bore 92, and is in contact at one endwith the washer 95 and adjusting screw 93, and at the other end with thebase of the actuator arm 91, said actuator arm 91 having the elongatedextension 98 extending from the base thereof through the axes of thecoil spring 94 to maintain alignment of said spring. Mounted on theactuator arm 91 is the notched head 99 in which is positioned the freeend of a pivotally mounted compression lever I00. The fixed end of saidcompression lever is mounted in the wall of the drum 9 diametricallyopposite the rocking end of the adjusting screw 93, and said leverprovides a snap action for fast, positive movement of the actuator,assuring movement of the actuator into full transverse position.Pivotally mounted in the drum and positioned on opposing sides of theactuator 9| are the dog levers 26, 21. Channels IOI in the dog levers26, 21, and on opposing sides of the actuator 9I receive the ends of thelink connections I02, I03, tying the dog levers to the actuator.Apertures I04, I04 in the side wall of the drum permit the dogs of thedog levers to move in and out of the drum 9. All of the mechanism withinthe drum is seated in a depression in the drum walls formed as shown inFig. 5 of the drawing.

As power is transmitted through the gear 'I the drum 9 is rotated. Oneof the dog levers 26, 21 will be extended outside of the drum housingthrough one of the apertures I04 and will be contacted by the lug of oneof the driven arms I I, I2. If the dog 26 is extended the lug I3 of thedriven arm I! contacts the dog 26 and imparts rotation through thedriven arm II to the sprocket wheel 33, said wheel 33 carrying the chain34 which drives sleeve 36 and the film reel 58 in one direction. Whenthe film being wound is entirely wound on one reel, the opposing end ofthe film being locked in the other reel, the reels will stall holdingthe driven arm II immovable, and the torque of the drum 9 will force thedog 26 to move inwardly to clear the lug I3 of the driven arm I I. Theinward movement of the dog forces the actuator through the linkconnections I02, I03 to swing past center. The transverse movement ofthe actuator 9I causes actuator arm 91 to be placed under greatertension by moving the actuator through dead center position with thecompression lever I00 compressing the coil spring 94, which afterpassing dead center the snap action of the lever I 00 forces theactuator to the new position quickly and will force the dog 21 to itsfully extended position, the dog face thereof projecting outwardlythrough the aperture I04. The newly extended dog 21, upon completion ofa partial rotation of the drum, will come in contact with the lug I4 ofthe driven arm I2 and rotation will be imparted to the gears BI and 82and thence through the sprocket wheel 83 and chain I9 to the sprocketwheel 94 which in turn drives the opposing reel 85 in a reversedirection, causing the film being developed to be re-wound on said reel.This reversing action is repeated each time the film is exhausted fromone of the reels, the torque of the drum and immobility of the drivenarm. causing the driving arm to move inwardly and forcing the opposingdriving arm outwardly into driving relation with the respective drivenarm.

The film to be developed is usually received by the operator while it isstill on the camera spool. The camera spool is mounted on the spoolholder I0 by placing one end of the spool on the spindle I2 andadjusting the bar I3 and spindle I4 to the Width of the spool so thatspindle I4 holds the opposing end of the spool. The clamp I5 is thenmoved into clamping position, holding the bar I3 immovable on the postI0. The spool holder is then mounted on the developing device by fittingthe notch 1'! into the notch I8 of the cross plate I9 and the upper endof the post I0 urged into engagement with the clamp on the framework I.The free end of the film is then threaded through an aperture (notshown) in the reel housing 50 and an aperture (not shown) in the core ofthe reel shaft 51 looking the film thereon as more particularlydescribed in the copending application above referred to. The lockingmember 55 is then inserted into the aperture 52 of the reel shaft 51,and fitted int-o locking position, locking the reel 58 and shaft 51 inrotatable relation. The hood 54 may be manually screwed down onto thelocking member 55 holding same in locked position. The driving mechanismmay then be activated either through activation of the motor or bymoving the handle 4| out of engagement with the sleeve 36 and turningthe reel manually through the shaft 40. Afte the film has beentransferred from the camera film spool to the reel, the spool holder I0may be removed from the framework of the developing device, the free endof the film threaded into the empty reel in the same manner as abovedescribed, the empty reel locked to the shaft as above described and thereels immersed in the developing tanks and the motor activated, and thedeveloping process thus commenced. In the event of failure of operationof the driving mechanism due to motor failure or similar reasons, suchas are often encountered in the field, the handle 4I may be moved out ofengagement with the sleeve 36 by a transverse movement of the handle andthe inner shaft 40 manually rotated by rotating the handle M and thefilm thus developed as above described. When the film is entirely woundon one reel, the handle of the empty reel will be used to reverse thewind, which procedure will be repeated until the film is developed.

The embodiments of the invention herein shown and described are to beregarded as illustrative only, and it is to be understood that theinvention is susceptible to variation, modification, and change withinthe scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a film developing device for roll films and the like thecombination of a power driven rer winding and reversingiamechanismrands: a pair of film reeis,fsaidmechanism being adapted to alternatelydrive said'pair' or filmt-lo'aded reels, said driving imechanismnhavingzdriving 'c onnections with a: pair of driven sleeves; 1011211311611 nally slidable shafts Within: said sleeves "having clutch membersxm'olmte'don one:-.end:. .thereoi, reel; shafts 'in'. said ereel's having: drivingconnections-on one end thereot adaptedtobe engaged by said clutchmembers, transversely 1 movable handles on one end oflsaid :slidableshaitsihaving :clutch members adapted to engage cooperatingclutchmem-berson saidsieevess'manually operable locking means forlocking'saidnslidahlesshaits and reel shafts in clutched: position andadapted to be moved out of locking position. toipe'rmit the slidableshafts to" be longitudinally moved into and out of clutching relationwith said reel shafts.

2'; In apparatus of the character describ'edda "drivin unitin'cludina-motonand, onvopposite sides thereof, substantially similarmechanismseach comprisingsa rotatable sleeve, means for driving the sleeve fromthe driving unit; a vertically movable shaft within the sleeve,clutching means adapted to impart rotation from-the sleeve to the shaft,a film loaded reel; clutching adapted toimpart rotation from the shaft'to' the reel, locking means maintaining" the shaft and reel in:engagement, said locking ineans belng adapted to be moved ontof lockingposition to permit the shaft to be manually'moved vertically within thesleeve and outer engagement with the reel.

'3'. In apparatus of the characterdescrihedya driving unit including amotor, and, on opposite sidesthereof, subst'antially similar-mechanismseach comprising a rotatable'sleeve adapted to be driven by thedrivingunit, a vertically movable shaft within the sleeve; clutchmeans on thesleeve and the shaft consisting of a handle'mou'nted on said shaft andadapted to impart rotation thereto and being movable transversely of theshaft, and a projection on the handle adapted to be carried into and outof engagement "with a corresponding projection on the sleeve, a" reel,

clutching means'on' the shaft adapted to'eiTgage the reel toimpartrotation from the shaft to the reel.

4. An apparatus of the character described having an automatic torqueresponsive reversing mechanism comprising an input shaft, admin drivenby said shaft, interconnected"clutching elements carriedbysaid drum andadapted to be extended and retracted from operative clutching position;cooperatingdriven elementsr'nount ed for free rotation concentric"withsaid drum, snap action means within sai'd'drum and responsive topredetermined torquethereon" "for urging said interconnected clutching"elements into and out of' clutching engagement with the respectivedriven elements, ando'pposit'el'y r0- tatabl'e output drives actuatedbythe respective driven elements.

5. A reversing mechanism-forroll" film develop; ing' devices comprisinga drive" shaft, a drum mounted on said shaft, a pair'oi" drivenmernbersfreely mounted on said shaft concentricwith' said drum, a pairv ofdriving members'pivotally mounted within said drum; apertures in'theside walls of'said drum through which the contact'ends'of said'driving members move into drivingposition, means for moving said drivingmembersalternately into driving relation, each with 'i'tsresp'ectivedriven member.

8 GliAir apparatnssof theacharactercdescribed halving an; automatictorque responsive reversing mechanism "comprising an "input shaft;andrum drivens-by said shaftginterconnectedclutching elements carried bysaid drum and v-adapted 'to heels-tended and retracted from operativeclutching-position;cooperating drivenelements mounted for free-rotationeoricentricr with said drum, snap a'ctionmeans withinsaid: drumresponsive to api edetermined. tor'que thereon: for urging saidinterconnected clutching elements into" and outQfiiGlutchi-ngr:engagement with the: respective d'riveni elements,-means' on said driven elements for moving the engaged 'clut'ch'elementswinwaraly of elutching engagement; and 1 oppositely ro tatableoutputidrivesl actuated: by the respective driven elements.-

5 apparatusxor the character 6 described having: an: automatictorqueresponsivereversing mechanism? comprising an input shaft, a drum drivenby said shaft, interconnected clutching elements carried: by saiddrum:and adapted to be extendedand retracted from operative clutching*posi-tion, cooperating driven 7 elements Z mounted for free rotationconcentric with said drurn snap action" means withinsaid drumresponsiveI to? a predetermined torque thereon for urging said interconnectedclntcl'iing elements into and out of chitchi-ng engagementwith therespective drivenelements; dog faces on saidclutching el'e' mentsadapted to engage lugs on said driven elements; and'opposi't'el yrotatable output drives actuated by the respective driven elements;

8E apparatus of= the character "descriiied having anautomatic torqueresponsive reversing mechanismcomprisingan in'putshaft, a drum driven"by said shaft,interconnected clutching elements carried hy said drum andadapted to'be extended and retracted from operative clutching position;cooperating driven elements mountedfor free rotation concentric withsaid i drum, snap action means within said drum" responsive to apredetermined torque thereon for urging said interconnected clutchingelementsinto and-out ofohtching engagement" withthe respective drivenelements, comprising an actuator adapted to rockzi'n adepressiorr insaid drum; acoil spring "mounted in said actuator; an adjustable screwin contact with and determining the torque" of said spring, a"movablehead guiding the movement of 'said actuator in" contact with saidspring at'one end and notched'iat the other end, a pivotally mounted?compression lever positioned diametricallyioppo'site the base of saidactuator, 'thefiee end thereof s'e'atingin said notch on said headadapted" to urge said actuatorvinto its respective lateralositions'means connecting said actuator with said blutching elements,and oppositely r0"- tatable outputdrives actuated by -the respectivedriven elements. 7

WILLIAM HI RICHARDS".

i anrsesncns cream The following references: are of record ln-the fileof: this patent r umrnn=-srs'rns= eAT'ENTs

